Head of Risk Control Unit

Job Summary

To lead the Risk Control Unit by ensuring robust post-sanction governance, adherence to credit policies, effective portfolio monitoring, and delivery of high-quality reporting to support sound risk management and business performance.

Job Description

Key accountabilities

Risk Management (50%)

• Ensure the highest standard of post sanction fulfilment/monitoring and control through formulation and implementation of consistent policies and processes across RCU.
• Responsibility for personal adherence to governance, compliance, and lending portfolio controls. Ensuring own conformance to policy and procedures within specialist lending function, including initiative-taking management of agreed responsibilities for data integrity.
• Work closely with centre and in-country credit team to understand the lending portfolio and risk capabilities and to identify gaps or weaknesses in the post sanction process; work in conjunction with the relevant teams to formulate plans to close the gaps.
• In charge for monitoring and control of wholesale portfolio to assure adherence to terms and conditions of sanctions identifying any areas within the portfolio that are cause for concern/potential cause for concern. Communication both up and down reporting lines.
• Quarterly review of the Wholesale Credit key risks and their mitigating controls through effective critical process assessment (CPA) tests
• Own and monitor the achievement of agreed targets for risk performance measures by the RCU team taking corrective action where applicable.
• Effective management of the facility limits (loading, amending and cancellation) to ensure that published limits are in line with the latest sanction and in accordance with the operational processes and procedures.
• Management of maintenance, review and follow up of a complete Diary System detailing deficiency and deferrals/loans repayment dates/excesses clearance dates/dated security and Covenants.
• Management of the Financial Covenant and Internal Risk Trigger Monitoring systems/data regarding its integrity of capturing, advising and escalation of overdue and failed/breached covenants.
• Periodic review of the applicable interest rates and commissions for all corporate customers using sanctions and Interest Audit Reports.
• Consulting with legal team about the non-standard documentation and changes to the standard commercial and standard terms and conditions
• Ensure knowledge and best practice sharing across the RCU and business stakeholders.

 Business Risk Partnership (20%)

• Ensure a consistent quality of service to RCU stakeholders.
• Work in partnership with all stakeholders to proactively anticipate, respond to, and seek to exceed expectations of customers.
• Attend meetings with the Corporate Credit Managers/Relationship Managers whenever account-related issues are to be discussed/resolved.
• Support Head of Wholesale Credit in driving strategy, delivering service excellence, and delivering results for individuals within the team

Team Leadership (30%)

• Manage the overall performance and people agenda in the Risk Control Unit.
• Proactively manage team members identified as talent, ensure that they have clear individual plans that speeds up their development and gives Absa maximum benefit from their deployment.
• Ensure that robust and detailed succession plans exist and that these are used to develop actions to ensure sufficient bench strength with right people in the right jobs.
• Identify and drive development and training initiatives to ensure that the capability of RCU staff is continually improved.
• Develop an initiative-taking team maintaining excellent relationships with own team and wider teams to ensure achievement of business goals.
• Function as a role model and drive initiative-taking application of Absa values throughout the team.
• Create awareness amongst team on group policies, RCU procedures and regulations.
• Keep the team motivated and ensure accurate and efficient delivery. Build systems to allow for job rotation within RCU to identify and groom team members to take leadership roles.
• Proactively contribute to embedding change management initiatives in support of process and quality improvements, cost reductions and development of the people.
• Champion and execute smooth change management including continuous process improvement.
• Ensure RCU activities and importance is communicated to the wider business (peers and senior management) and consultation during changes in policies and procedures at business levels.

Role/person specification

Preferred Education

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in a related field.
• A Post graduate degree and/or relevant professional accreditation will be added advantage.

Preferred Experience

• At least 3 years’ experience in governance and control within the financial services sector

Knowledge and Skills

Knowledge

• Sound knowledge of Corporate Business and Credit Risk management
• Sound knowledge of securities/credit documentation.
• Sound knowledge of interpreting sanctions and credit issues.
• Sound knowledge of the Bank’s products and services, policies, and procedures
• Sound knowledge of local regulations relating to lending and the Bank’s procedures for taking security.

Skills

• Negotiation and influencing skills.
• Communication and presentation skills
• Time management, planning and organisation.
• Operational processing and cross functional awareness
• Building and maintaining effective relationships on all levels
• Strong ability to view issues from a risk & control perspective
• Ability to work well under pressure, working accurately with attention to detail, and meeting deadlines.

Education

Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)

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